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STATISTICS 



OF THE 



COLORED PEOPLE 



OF 



PHILADELPHIA. 



TAKEN BY 



BENJAMIN C. BACON, 



AND PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE 

y 

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF "THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY FOR ) 
PROMOTING THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY," ETC. 



SECOND EDITION. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

REPRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

1859. 






n- 



At a Stated Meetin;; of the Board of E lucation of the " Pennsylvania Society 
for promoting the Abolition of tilavery, &c.," held 12th mo. 8th, 1853, the Com- 
miiiee appointed to report a plan of collecting Statistics, &;., produced the fol- 
lowing, which was accepted. 

To the Board of Education. 

The Committee appointed to consider of. and report to the Board the bes: 
method of aacertaining the present state of education among the colored popu- 
lation of our city and districts, in order that those who succeed us in this con- 
cern may at future periods, have some data from which they can form an estimate 
of the progress made by this class of our citizens in school learning. &c. 

Recomtnend, That with the concurrence of the Society, our Visiting Agent be 
instructed to collect and arrange in tabular form the following and such other 
items of information as may be thought necessary to represent the present state 
of education among ibem, in addition to the duties heretofore assigned him. 

viz * 

The number over twenty years of ag9 who caa read and write and who under- 
stand the simple rules of arithmetic. 

The number over twenty years of age who can read and write legibly, 
(Jo. do. who can read only, 

do. do. Slave born, 

do_ do. born free in Slave States, 

do do. who cannot read or write, 

do. of Libraries, date of organization, number of volumes, &c.. 

do. of Literary Societies, date of O'-ganization, &c., 

do. of children attending schools, and whether Public or Private 

Schools, 
do. of children over eight years old, not attending School. 

Your Committee further recommend that the Agent be directed to ascertain 
the number employed as teachers, the number of artizans, the number who have 
learned trades, the' number who work ai their trades, and the number employed 
in the higher departments of labor, such as clerkship?, &c. &c., so that our suc- 
cessors may also be enabled to note their progress in these respects. 
^ POWELL STACKeOUSE,1 

BENJAMIN COATES, 
BENJ.\MIN' C. BACON, 
SIMEON COLLINS, 

Philadelpliia \2th mo. Sth, 1853. 

In accordance with the recommendation of the Keport, Bexj.^mix C. B.\cos 

was appointed, in Fourth Month. IS.'.t, to perform the service therein named: 

and at the stated meeting of the Board in First Month, 1856, Dillwyn Parrish, 

JosHDA T. JEANES, and Benjamin Coates were appointed to assist the agent in 

its revision and publication. 

us revision a v DILLWYN PARRISH, 

Chairman of the Board of Education. 

T. Ellwood Chapman, Secretary. 



-Committee. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 






Those friends of the Colored people of this city, who have visited 
their Week-day and First-day Schools for a number of past years, notice 
with pleasure their greatly improved condition. Those who have, for 
a like period, mingled with adults in their Evening Schools, Libraries, 
Literary Associations and Churches, are much gratified to see how 
steadily they advance in knowledge and refinement. 

The want of well authenticated facts relative to the number, charac- 
ter and condition of their various schools, and the state of education 
among adults, as they were thirty or forty years ago, has long been 
seriously felt. By comparing the present with past periods of their 
history, such information would enable all concerned in vindicating the 
character and rights of this oppressed people more efi'ectually to repel 
the slanders of their enemies, and to correct the erroneous impressions 
of some of their friends, respecting their readiness and capacity to ac- 
quire learning. 

The facts having been collected by a personal canvass of a member 
of the Society, in whose ability and integrity they have full confidence, 
are believed to be correct. 

Philadelphia, First Month, (^January,') 1856. 



NOTE TO PRESENT EDITION. 

The first Edition of these statistics having been exhausted, it was 
deemed advisable to re-print them, to which we append the letter of 
W. J. Mullen, the Prison Agent, containing, as it does, valuable and 
interesting statistics, bearing on the moral condition of the colored 
people. 

Philada., Gth month, 1859. 



STATISTICAL INQUIRY. 

I. DAY AND EVENING SCHOOLS. 

In the .'Spring of 1853; the Board published a report of their School 
Agent, containing a comparative statement of the condition of these 
schools for the months of January and February, in the years 1852 
and 1853. The following revised edition of that report, contains a 
sketch of their history for the year 1854 : — 

1. Public Schools.* 

Grammar Schools, (a) Sixth street above Lombard. Established in 
1822. Boys' school, James M. Bird, Principal, and three female 
assistants; total 228 ; average attendance 208. Girls' school, Maria 
C. Hutton, Principal, and three assistants. Total 252 ; average atten- 
dance 193. 

Pri'ma?-^ ^ScAoo/, in the same building. Established in 1S41. Jane 
Barry, Principal, and two assistants. Boys 105 ; Girls 98 ; total 183 ; 
average attendance 150. 

Roberts Vaux Unclassified School, Coates street near Fifth. Estab- 
lished in 1833. David R. Murrell, Principal, and one female assistant. 
Boys 112 ; Girls 24 ; total loG ; average attendance 93. 

West Philadelphia Unclassified School, Oak street. Established in 
1830. Mary A. Delamatcr, Principal, and one assistant. Boys 46; 
Girls 51 ; average attendance 78. 

Corn Street Unclassifed School. Established in 1849. Parah L. 
Peltz, Teacher. Boys 18 ; Girls 29 ; total 47; average attendance 32. 

Franhford Unclassified School. Established in 1839. "William 
Coffee, Teacher. Boys 18 ; Girls 13 ; total 31 ; average attendance 25. 

Ilolmcsburg Unclassified School. Established in 1854. ^laria Shade, 
Teacher. Boys 13; Girls 12 ; total 25 ; average attendance 19. 

Bannchcr School, Pa.-^chalvillc. Established in 1841. E. M Biddlc, 
Teacher. Boys IG ; Girls 1(3 ; total 32 ; average attendance 15. 

* The total number and average attendance of these schools, was taken from 
the Controller's last Report. In consdiuence of the Coneolidation Act, the year 
was changed from July to January, so that the Report is for one year and a half. 

(rt) Schools thus marked have Libraries. 



The condition of Colored Public Schools generally, was formerly not 
as good as that of the Charity schools, but they have improved very 
much within a few years past. Owing to remissness on the part of 
parents, about twelve years ago the Grammar schools were on the point 
of being given up. The alarm was given — public meetings were held 
by the colored people, and an agent of their own appointed to visit from 
house to house and urge the people to duty. Our Board was also ac- 
tively engaged in the matter. The schools were saved, and for the last 
three years have so increased in numbers that one teacher has been 
added to each school, making the full complement. The school house 
has recently been remodelled. 

Within the past year very marked changes have taken place in the 
West Philadelphia school, and the St. Mary's street Primary school. 
The former has been removed from the hovel in which it was so long 
kept, to the basement of the Colored Baptist Church, and has so in- 
creased in numbers that the Directors have added another teacher, and 
are desirous of getting a still larger room. The latter school has been 
removed from its former bad location to the basement story of the 
Grammar schools in Sixth street, which has been fitted up on purpose 
for its accommodation. Since its removal, the better class of parents 
do not object to sending their children to it, and the number of scholars 
has increased so much that extra seats have been introduced. 

2. Charity Schools.* 

Institute for Colored Youth, (a) Lombard street above Seventh. Es- 
tablished in 1852. Charles L. Reason, Principal; Grace Mapes, assist- 
ant Teacher in the Female department. Males 15 ; Females 16 ; total 
31 : average attendance 20. 

Raspherry Street Schools, (a) corner of Locust and Raspberry streets. 
Established in 1770. Boys' School, John W. Stokes, Principal, and 
one female assistant ; total 90 ; average attendance 64. Girls' School, 
Martha Cox, Principal, and one assistant ; total 79 ; average attend- 
ance 53. 

Adclplu School, (a) Wager street. The Girls' department established 
in 1838, the Infant department in 1835. Girls' department, Anna M. 
Kite, Principal, and one assistant ; total 70 ; average attendance 42. 
Infant department, Catharine Shipley, Principal, and one assistant .; 
total 95 ; average attendance 01. 

Sheppard School, {a) Piandolph street above Parrish. Established 

* The year of these schools begins about the first of September, and ends 
with the following summer vacation. 



in 1850, Anna Buzby, Principal, and one assistant; total 60 ; average 
attendance 40. 

School for the Destitute at the House of Industrt/, corner of Seventh 
and Catliarine streets. Established in 1848. Sarah Lewis, Principal, 
and two assistants; total both sexes 100; average attendance 75. 

School for the Destitute, Lombard street above Seventh. Established 
in 1851. Sarah Luciana, Teacher ; total both sexes 73; average at- 
tendance 45. 

Infant School, corner of South and Clifton streets. Established in 
T.827. S. C. Swan, Principal, and two assistants ; total 150; average 
attendance 85. 

The unpretending title of the " Institute for Colored Youth," does 
not convey an adequate idea of the relation it sustains 'to the other 
schools. It is, in fact, the pioneer High School, and on that account 
alone cannot be too highly appreciated. But for the liberal spirit of 
the Trustees of the several fijnds given for its endowment, there might 
be nothing to answer the purpose of a High school for many years to 
come. Having commenced with seven pupils only, the present state 
of the school is all the more gratifying. 

A considerable number of the scholars belonging to both the Rasp- 
berry street and Adelphi Girls' schools are so large and backward, that 
they would be ashamed to enter the Public Primary schools, and would 
do so reluctantly, if at all. Hence their greater usefulness. Adults 
are sometimes seen in the two former. 

The Sheppard school is a great blessing to the part of the city in 
which it is located. As it is quite select, and as none but girls attend 
it, a large portion of those who fill its seats would sooner stay at home 
than jio to Coates' street School. 

The two schools for the destitute are objects of increasing interest. 
The Manacers of the one at the House of Industrv, introduced the in- 
dustrial feature in a small way during the late fall and winter. A 
.slioemaker was employed to superintend, and materials furnished for 
the larger boys to work up into shoes, for the use of the school. The 
experiment was satisfactory. The one in Lombard street is much bet- 
ter accommodated than formerly. Since the removal to their new loca- 
tion, a successful experiment has been made in a limited way, to intro- 
duce the home feature. Twelve of the children have been indentured 
to the Teacher, with power to bind them out as fast as she finds suita- 
ble places for them. The usefulness of both schools would be greatly in" 



creased, if the majority of the children who attend them could be con- 
trolled in the same manner. 

As no public provision is made for the instruction of children too 
young to attend the Primary schools, the two infant schools are watched 
with deep interest. They are both in a very satisfactory state. 

3. Schools connected with Benevolent and Reformatory In- 
stitutions.* 
House of Refuge (a) corner of Poplar and William streets. Estab- 
lished in 1850 ; supported in part by the State. The Boys' school has 
a principal and one assistant male teacher. Largest number of inmates 
at any one time 88 ; average for the year 75 ; sessions from 5 to T^ A. 
M., and from bh to 8 P. M., the evening session on Saturday being 
omitted. 

The Girls' school has one female teacher. Largest number of in- 
mates at aay one time 44 ; average for the year 36 ; ono session from 
2 to 5 P. M. Being schools of discipline as well as of instruction, the 
order is excellent, and the scholars make fair progress in their studies. 
Their last session in the week is principally devoted to reading the 
Bible or sacred history. A considerable number of the boys, when not 
in school; work at some useful trade. The girls are occupied with 
making garments, mending, washing and other domestic duties out of 
school. 

Orphans' Shelter, Thirteenth street above Callowhill. Established 
in 1822, under the care of an association of women Friends It has a 
principal and one assistant female teacher, and is conducted principally 
upon the infant school plan. Number of inmates at the close of the 
year 73. There are always a few too small to be in school. Being ap- 
prenticed at an early age, there are seldom any over ten years old to 
attend. 

Home for Colored Children, Girard avenue above Ridge Road. Es- 
tablished in 1855. It is under the control of a board of lady managers, 
assisted by a board of male trustees. It contains at present 19 inmates. 
Its design is to take the entire control of destitute colored children of 
both sexes, instruct them mentally and morally, and place them as ap- 
prentices in some useful occupation with persons interested in their 
welfare. It is proposed to incorporate the Institution, procure funds, 
and erect a building adapted to the purpose, which will accommodate the 
numerous applicants who seek the protection which such a home affords. 
*The reports of these Instiiutionsare made for ench calender year. 



4. Private Schools. 



Sarah M. Douglass, Institute Building, Lonnbard street 

above Seventh, 

Margaretta Forten, 92 Lombard street, 

Amelia Bojjle, 12th street below Spruce, 

Adam S. Driver, Barclay street above Sixth, 

ttiizabeth Clark, corner Fifih and Gaskill streets, 

Emeline Higgins, 4 Raspberry street, 

Ada Hinton, C Locust street, 

Sarah Gordon, 9 Rodman Street 

Diana Smith, Prosperous Alley 

Emeline Curtis, 62 Gaskill street, 

Sarah Ann Gordon, Bonsall street above Tenth, 

Ann McCormick, Brown street above Fourth, 

George W. Johnson, Lombard street above Seventh,.... 

Summary of the Day Schools. 

Public Schools, 

Charity Schools, 

Benevolent and Reformatory Schools, 

Private Schools, 



Estab- 


No. of Scho- 


lish'-a in 


lars on roll- 


1835 


30 


1850 


10 


1841 


17 


1850 


37 


1850 


40 


1840 


30 


1849 


20 


1849 


30 


1836 


15 


1850 


12 


1852 


20 


1854 


30 


1854 


40 


rotal. 


Areroge 
Atu-ndanie 


1031 


821 


748 


491 


211 




331 





2321 



S. M. Douglass teaches higher branches than are taught in j'ublic 
(Trammar Schools. The Managers of the Institute, in whose building 
her school is kept, have made an arrangement with her by which she 
will at all times have 25 girls preparing for admission into their school. 

M. Forten and A. Hinton teach branches similar to those taught in 
Lrrammar Schools, the former being the only one that takes boarding 
scholars. All the others teach nothing more than the elementary 
branches. The proprietors of female schools all teach plain sewing, and 
most of them add ornamental knecdle work, and knitting. 

5. Evening Schools. 

Raspberry Street Schools commence on the tirst Monday in October 
and continue five months. Five sessions are held each week. 

Men's School, John W. Stokes, Principal, and throe male assistants. 
Total 138 ; average attendance 50. 

Women's School, Mary Roberts, Principal, and four assistants. Total 
255 ; average attendance G3. 

Jipprcnticcs and Yuuag Men's School at the New Institute commences 
on the first Monday in November and continues fourth months. Charlep 
L. Reason, Teacher. 

The Raspberry Street Schools were established many years ago, and 
were formerly conducted by voluntary teachers. They always enjoyed 
a large share of the public confidence^ but since the paid system of 



9 

teacliiug was introduced, they liave become more efficieut than ever be- 
fore. None are admitted to the Men's School under 18 years of age. 

The school taught by C. L. Reason happily supplies the wants of ap- 
prentices and others who cannot attend Day Schools, but arc too young 
to enter the Raspberry Street School. 

General Remarks. 

The teachers of the Institute for Colored Youth, and of all the private 
schools, are of their own complexion. All the others are white. 

No register is kept in any school denoting standard of scholarship, 
nor is there any system of rewards for exciting emulation. 

"When the Shcppard School was established it was feared by some that 
the Coates Street School would be injured thereby, but the contrary 
proves to be the fact. So, also, some feared that the Grammar Schools 
would be injured by the establishment of the Institute for Colored 
Youth, but the former were never so well attended, or in so prosperous 
a state as at present. 

The irregular attendance of scholars, (unavoidable in a majority of 
cases) particularly in the larger and more advanced schools, imposes 
considerable extra labor upon teachers, prevents a thorough classification, 
and makes the recitations less spirited than they otherwise would be. 
Of all men and women who labor for the good of others, none are more 
deserving than the faithful teachers of these schools. 

It would be interesting to know the amount of school tax paid by 
this people, but the expense alread} incurred by the Board is sq^ great 
that it is not practicable to procure the information at present. The 
census taken by our Society in 1837-8 showed very clearly that they 
paid something more than their proportion of poor tax, and it is pre- 
sumed that they have not been of late years, if ever, deficient in their 
proportion of school tax. 

The numbers of children over 8 years of age, and under 18, not in 
school, was found to be 1620. As the canvass was mostly made in the 
spring and summer, it is quite probable that the number is nearer 2000 
during the fall and winter months. 



10 



II. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
1. Schools attached to their oicn congregations and conducted by their 

own teachers. 



First Baptist, corner Eleventh and Pearl streets, 
TJnion Baptist, Little Pine street above Sixth, - 
Shiloh Baptist, corner Clifton and South streets. 
Oak street Baptist, Oak street, West Philadelphia, 
Bethel, Sixth street above Lombard, - - - - 

Brick Wesley, Lombard street Jjelow Sixth, - - 
Union, Coates street below York Avenue, - - 
Little Wesley, Hurst street below Lombard, 
Zoar Brown street above Fourth, _ _ _ _ 

Mount Pisgah, Locust st, above Till, West Phila 
Israel, corner Fifth and Gaskill streets, - - - 
Frankford, ---________ 

Holmesburjr, - --------- 

Little Wesley Mission, Seventh street below Dick- 
erson, --_-_____. 

Allen Chapel, rear 72 Christian street, - - - 
First Presbyterian, Seventh street below Shippen, 
Second do St. Mary street above Sixth, 
Central do Lombard street below Ninth, 
St. Thomas, corner Fifth and Adelphi streets, 



1^ 5 IS 
J) o , i — I ; o 












■70 

47 

48 

44 

524 

116 

67 

100 

80 

39 

78 

57 

23 

50 
20 
40 
25 
6G 
183 



24 

14 

32 

10 

7G 

76 

147 

81 

5 

13 

15 



5 

10 
10 
10 
2 
32 
15 



2 



1 



97 

65 

5 

87 

55 

45 

15 



18 










92 

61 

79 

54 

503 

127 

209 

102 

30 

7 

78 

57 

10 

60 
30 
50 
27 
98 
198 



1677 577390 1882 185 181 



: .5 >» 3 o 

li 



10 
8 
7 
9 
37 
16 
7 

18 

10 

5 

10 

5 

5 

4 
5 
4 
7 
7 
11 



12 

8 

8 

8 

27 

23 

20 

6 

7 

2 

10 
5 



6 
5 
4 
5 
9 
11 



2. ScJiools under the supervision of White Missions and Indiiiduals. 



St. Andrew's Church, Phil. Ins.. Lombard street 
above Seventh. Female Department, - 
Male do - 

Infant School, - - - 



Ladies Union City Mission, corner Seventh street 
and Bradford's Alley. Infant School. 

Young Men's City Mission, Bedford street below 
Eighth, --------- 

Family of Morris L. Hallowell, 211 Filbert street. 



143 


46 


34 


155 
35 


I. 

4 








40 


1 


143 


46 


34 


230 


17 





65 





Go 


1 


30 


35 


5 


60 


3 


42 





2 


40 


3 


215 


146 


41 


395 


24 



12 
4 
1 

17 

1 

6 
3 



27 



The schools couuected with the Jirick Wesley and Union Methodist 
Churches were conducted wholly by white teachers from the time they 
were established till about ten years ago, when they came under their 
own supervision. Two important objects were gained by this assump- 
tion of new duties, viz : — An increased spirit of self reliance in their 
congregations, and the mental improvement of those employed as 
teachers. 



11 



III. ADULT EDUCATION. 

1. Table showing the number ivho can read, lorite and cipher, &c. 



= t» 



^i 






0) 



-.a g* 



OS 



d 






|i 



First Ward, - 
Second Ward, - 
Third Ward, 
Fourth Ward, 
Fifth Ward, - 
Sixth Ward, 
Seventh Ward, 
Eighth Ward, 
Ninth Ward, - 

Tenth Ward, 
Eleventh Wardj - 
Twelfth Ward, 
Thirteenth Ward, - 
Fourteenth Ward, - 
Fifteenth Ward, - 
Sixteenth Ward, - 
Seventeenth Ward, 
Eighteenth Ward, 
Nineteenth Ward, 
Twentieth Ward, - 
Twenty-first Ward, 
Twenty-second Ward, 
Twenty-third ward. 
Twenty-fourth ward, 



223 

349 

275 

1427 

1818 

151 

1867 

969 

76 

208 

37 

234 

69 

23r 

157 

82 

70 

4 

114 

99 

2 

36 
249 
252 



9001 



25 

36 

60 

262 

350 

21 

431 

204 

20 

40 

2 

53 
15 
34 

20 

17 

13 

1 

6 

22 



7 

30 

41 



1710 



23 

54 

48 

199 

285 

25 

337 

192 

16 

39 

11 

35 

12 

46 

26 

12 

8 

1 

20 

12 



4 

43 

34 



47 

76 

68 

273 

310 

34 

311 

199 

19 

42 

5 

42 

15 

66 

29 

13 

11 



18 

15 

1 

7 

48 

37 



1482 1686 



128 

183 

99 

693 

873 

71 

788 

374 

21 

87 

19 

104 

27 

87 

82 

40 

38 

2 

70 

60 

1 

18 

128 

140 



136 

156 

118 

561 

747 

41 

708 

356 

24 

64 

14 

78 

15 

61 

46 

25 

16 

1 

37 

33 



6 

75 

53 



4123 3371 



37 

57 

48 

186 

212 

25 

213 

147 

11 

44 

3 
28 

8 
23 
22 

7 
10 


26 
11 

2 

8 
33 
46 



1212 



The Agent found it diflScult, in some cases, to determine who could 
read. When doubts existed upon the subject the question generally 
was, " Can he read tolerably free, and easily in the New Testament ?" 
If an affirmative answer was given, he was classed as a reader. 

To determine who could write was nearly as difficult. In doubtful 
cases the question was, "■ Can he write well enough to write letters to 
his friends ?" An affirmative answer was deemed sufficient. 

As the number of men who can cypher is considerably greater than 
that of women, and as the former were not generally at home to answer 
for themselves, no satisfactory information could bo obtained in some 
cases. In other cases the information obtained lacked clearness. Where 
doubts existed, and especially if the parties inquired of seemed not to 
comprehend the meaning of cyphering in the simple rules, the question 
was asked, " Can he work out sums on a slate through long division V 



12 

If that failed to elicit the proper answer, the attempt was then made to 
ascertain whether he was in the first class in certain schools named; if 
so, it was taken for granted that he understood the simple rules of 
arithmetic. 

The table may seem dry and uninteresting, but let the reader analyze 
it a little, and he will find it instructive. The large number who cannot 
read (4123) may startle him at first, but let him consider that free 
born persons, in slave States, are so nearly on a level with the slaves, 
as far as school privileges are concerned, that he may add them to the 
slave-born, making the number 4583 — diflference to their credit, 460. 
Then let him suppose that 140 of those who cannot read were born on 
our own soil, a very moderate calculation, and he will have 600 as the 
number who learned to read, at least, since they came from the slave 
States. He will readily believe, however, that the number is much 
greater than that, if he will take the trouble to visit the evening schools 
and Sunday schools where adults are instructed. Such memoranda as 
the following, taken from the canvassing books of the Agent, will serve 
to strengthen this belief. 

'* The wife Sarah has learned to read tolerably well since she was 4U 
years old — never received any instruction worth mentioning." '* Pretty 
good scholar — went to school only two months — slave-born."' " Reads 
and writes, and is wholly self taught." " Went to school but six weeks 
— can read and write." '' Though a slave for 50 years, she began 
when about 65 years of age, to attend Sunday school, with crutch and 
stafi^, (being very lame,) and got so as to read tolerably well in the 
Bible — is now about 80, and goes to Sunday school and Church, when 
able." "Can read, write, and cypher, though he never attended 
school." 

2. Libraries ami Literari/ Associations. 

Public Library and Beading Room in the Institute for Colored 
Youth. Established in 1853 by the Managers of the Institute. From 
the 2d Annual Keport of the Librarian, dated 4th mo. 1st, 1855, we 
learn that there were then about 1,300 volumes belonging to the Li- 
brary. The number of readers were 450, of whom 233 were males, and 
and 217 females. New applicants, 127. 

Number of books loaned out during the year, - - 4,088 

" " " in the Heading lloom, - - 1,555 



Total, - - 5,642 

The interest in the Institution was represented to be steadily iucreas- 



13 

ing and many parents were commended for their exertion to secure the 
attachment of their offspring to it. 

Philadelphia Library Company. Organized in 1833. Incorpo- 
rated in 1837. Number of volumes in the Library, 200. Weekly lec- 
tures upon literary and scientific subjects are given, by the members 
and others, from the first week in October till the following May in 
each year. Discussions are held after each lecture. 

L'nity Library Company. Organized in 1S51. Number of volumes 
500. It has weekly lectures for three months in winter, by its own 
members and other persons of their own color, after which discussions 
are held. 

Bannekcr Institute. Organized in 1854:. A library is contemplated. 
It is composed ot younger members than either of the others. It has 
lectures and discussions in season. 



IV. OCCUPATIONS. 
1. Mechanical Trades. 



Bakers 4 

Baker and Brewer 1 

Barbers 248 

Barber and Bootmaker 1 

Barbers and Musicians 6 

Basket Makers 2 

Blacksmiths 22 

Blacksmith and Calico Stamper 1 

Blacksmith and Shoemaker I 

Bonnet Pressor 1 

Book Binder and Basketmaker 1 

Boot and Shoemakers 66 

Boot and Shoemakes and Musicians... 2 
Boot and Shoemaker, Musician and 

Music Teacher 1 

Bootmaker, Barber and Tailor 1 

Brass Founder 1 

Brick Layers 9 

Brick Layers and Plasterers 4 

Brick Makers, (3 branches, Mould- 
ers, Setters, and Burners,) 53 

Brick Maker and Musician 1 

Brush Maker 1 

Cabinet Makers 20 

Cabinet and Chair Maker, House 

Painter and Glazier 1 

Cake Bakers 5 

Carpenters 49 

Carver 1 

Carver and Gilder 1 

Carver and Turner 1 

Caulkers and Gravers 3 



< Cbair Maker 1 

I Coach Painter 1 

j Confectioners and Pastry Cooks 7 

I Coopers 9 

t Cracker Bakers 3 

I Cupper and Leecher, and Dress 

] Milker 1 

Currier 1 

[ Dentists 5 

1 Distillers 2 

I Draughtsman, Sign and Ornamental 

Painter 1 

Dress Makers 565 

Dress and Shirt Makers 50 

Dress and Shirt Makers, and Mili- 

ners 2 

Dress and Shirt Maker, and Pastry 

Cook 1 

Dyers 9 

Embroiderers 9 

Embroiderers and Dressmakers 3 

Embroiderer and Milliner 1 

Embroiderers and Shirt Makers 2 

Embroiderers and Tailoresses 2 

Embroiderers and Dress and Shirt 

Makers 4 

Forgemen 6 

Gardeners 2 

Garment Cutters 2 

Glove Maker 1 

Gold and Silver Pencil Finisher 1 

Hatters 4 



14 



Hair Workers 5 

Ilair Worker and Dressmaker 1 

House andShip Carpenter 1 

House Painters and Glaziers 7 

House and Sign Painters and Gla- 
ziers 3 

Ink and I'.lacking Maker 1 

Iron iloulder 1 

Ladies' Shoemakers 4 

Lampblack Maker 1 

Machinist 1 

Manuiacturing Chemists 2 

Map Mounters 2 

Mason and Bricklayer 1 

Mason and Plasterer 1 

Masonic and Odd Fellow's Regalia 

Makers 2 

Millers 4 

Milliners and Dressmakers 45 

Millwright 1 

Jlineral Water Maker 1 

Paper Box Makers 3 

Paper Hangers 2 

Paper Maker 1 

Pastry Cooks 10 

Plasterers 14 

Plumbers 2 

Portrait, Sign and Ornamental 
Painter, Teacher of Phonogra- 
phy, the Guitar, Singing, and 

Daguerreo typist 1 

Potters 2 

Pressman 1 

Printer 1 

Printers' Ink Maker 1 

Rectifier 1 

Rigger 1 

Rope Miker 1 

Rope and Brickmaker 1 

Rope and Brickmaker and Black- 
smith 1 

Saddle and Harness Maker 1 

Sail Makers 12 



Sand Paper Maker 1 

Sheet Iron Workers 4 

Ship Carpenters 5 

Shirt and Dressmakers 70 

Shoemakers 46 

Shoemaker and Musician 

Shoemaker and Carpenter 

Sign and Ornamental Painter 

Silver Smith 

Spectacle Maker 

Stationary Engineers 

Stereotyper Moulder and Caster 

Stove Finisher 

Stove Maker 

Sugar Refiner 

Tailors 20 

Tailoresses 29 

Tailoresses and Dressmakers 23 

Tailoresses, Shirt and Dressmakers, 

and Embroiderers 2 

Tallow Chandler 1 

Tanners 24 

Tanners and Curriers 6 

Tanner and Morocco Dresser 1 

Tanner and Musician 1 

Tanners and Stationary Engineers... .2 

Tanner and Type Caster 1 

Tinsmiths 3 

Turners 3 

Umbrella Makers 2 

Upholsterers 2 

Upholsteresses 2 

Varnish Manufacturer 1 

Vest Makers 2 

Weavers 16 

Weaver and Blacksmith 1 

Weavers and Dressmakers 2 

Wharf Builder 1 

Wheelwright 1 

Wire Workers 2 

Wrought Nail Maker 1 



Total 1,637 



2. Other Occupations 

Artists 5 I Midwife 

Assistant in Pencil Factory 1 | Musicians 

Captains of Coasting Vessels 2 

Clerks 5 

Hat Store 1 

Indian Doctor 1 

Livery Stable Keepers 2 

Lumber Merchants and Proprietors 
of Transportation Lines 3 



1 

6 

Music Teachers 5 

Musicians and Music Teachers 4 

Physicians 6 

School Teachers 16 

Trimming Store 1 



Total 



59 

"Re- 



in the year 1838, our Society published a pamphlet entitled 
giater of Trades of Colored People in the City of Philadelphia and Dis 



15 

tricts." The material for the work was collected from the canvassina; 
books of the Agents employed to take the census, published by the So- 
ciety the same year, and by the further inquiries of the principal one of 
those Agents among the various trades. The whole number having 
trades, according to that estimate, was 997. Six trades therein men- 
tioned, are not found in the present trade list, viz. : Black and White 
Smiths, Chair Bottomers, Fullers, Scythe and Sickle Maker, Stone Cut- 
ter, and Tobacconists. It makes no mention of Artists, Clerks, Lum- 
ber Merchants, &c. 

The material for the present list was obtained by a personal canvass 
from house to house, and embraces the whole consolidated City, The 
whole number having trades, exclusive of those mentioned under the 
head of " Other Occupations," is 1G52. Forty-one trades are here 
mentioned that are not found in the "Register" before mentioned, viz.: 
Carver, Carver and Gilder, Chair Maker, Coach Painter, Distillers, 
Draughtsman, Embroiderers, Gardeners, Garment Cutters, Glove Maker. 
Gold and Silver Pencil Finisher, Ink and Blacking Maker, Iron Moulder, 
Lamp Black Maker, Machinist, Manufacturing Chemists, Map 3Iount- 
ers, Masonic and Odd Fellows' Regalia Makers, Paper Box Makers, 
Paper Hangers, Printers' Ink Maker, Rectifier, Rigger, Saddle and 
Harness Maker, Sheet Iron Workers, Shirt Makers, Silver Smith, 
Spectacle ^laker, Stationary Engineers, Stereotype 3Ioulder and Caster, 
Stove Finishers, Stove Maker, Tallow Chandler, Umbrella Maker, Up- 
holsterers, Varnish IManufacturer, Vest Makers, Wharf Builder, and 
Wire Workers. 

Less than two-thirds of those who have trades follow them. A few 
of the remainder pursue other avocations from choice, but the greater 
number are compelled to abandon their trades on account of the unre- 
lenting prejudice against their color. i 

Conclusion. 

Information relating to property, pauperism, and crime, was not con- 
templated in this publication, but facts bearing upon either subject are 
60 deeply interesting, that no apology need be made for introducing the 
following brief statements, contained in a neatly printed pamphlet pre- 
pared by a committee of colored citizens of Philadelphia, in 1855, me- 
morializing the Legislature for the restoration of the right of suffrage 
which they enjoyed for 47 years prior to the adoption of the present 
constitution in 1838. 

We [of Philadelphia] possess §2,685,693 of real and personal estate. 



16 

and have paid $9,7GG 42 for taxes during the past year, and 
$396,782 27 for house, water, and ground rent. "We have had incor- 
porated 108 Mutual Beneficial Societies having 9,762 members, with 
aD annual income of 829,600 00, and a permanent invested fund of 
§28,366 00, which is deposited in various institutions among the whites, 
who derive a large profit therefrom. One thousand three hundred and 
eighty-five families were assisted by these Societies to the amount of 
S10,292 38 during the year 1853. It is evident from the facts that 
these charitable institutions must materially relieve the distress of fami. 
lies and maintain a large portion of our poor under circumstances which 
would otherwise throw them upon public charity. Again, as to crimes 
among us, by a letter of Judge Kelley, written in answer to certain 
questions put to him, it is shown that for the three years up to 1S54 
the commitments of colored persons to the Philadelphia County Prison 
have gradually decreased, while those of the whites for the same period 
have markedly increased. 

The New York Independent published, a few years since, a series of 
six letters from a Philadelphia correspondent, over the signature of A. 
H. B. They are written iu a very friendly spirit, and contain much 
valuable information respecting the colored population of our city. The 
last one is devoted in part to the subject of education. The concluding 
paragraph is so just and so hopeful in its tone, that we give it entire. 
" There is one idea that has often suggested itself to my mind in con- 
templating the condition and progress of these people, which may, per- 
haps, seem strange in such a connection. It is the nobility of human 
nature, in itself considered. I have often, it is true, been struck with 
the same idea from other sources. It is a natural thought to any one 
wlio looks at what mankind have done, and especially what the great 
men of the world have done. When we think of Shakspeare and Gib- 
bon, of Kant and Neander, in the world of books; when we remember 
the Reformation and the American Revolution, and the names of Luther 
and Washington, we cannot fail to be impressed at once with a feeling 
of awe and gratification at what man, as man, is, and what he can do. 
But when I see a people pinioned by so many discouragements, and 
bruised under such a complicated and heavy mass of ditfieultios as the 
colored people, steadily and surely elevating themselves above their cir- 
cumstances ; when I behold the immense mountain of prejudice that 
rests upon them, tottering and almost rising bodily from its base, I am 
struck with a detrree of admiration and amazement that I seldom feel on 
any other occasion, at the intrinsic strength and infinite tendencies of 
humanity." 



17 



The following letter from that indefatigable friend of humanity, Wm. 
J. Mullen, is so encouraging to the friends of the colored man that it, 
together with the additional information obtained from him, is here ap- 
pended. 

PhllacMpMa, 12(7i of March, 1859. 

Respected Friend, — Your letter of the 11th inst., has been received. 
You desire to know whether I " can furnish any statistics, drawn from 
the commitments to our prisons, showing the improved condition of our 
colored population." In reply, I am happy to say that I can, and I 
think the best mode of meeting your wishes will be to furnish a list of 
the number of colored persons who were tried, convicted and sentenced 
each year to labor in the Philadelphia County Prison, from October 19th, 
1835, the date of its commencement, till December 31st, 1858. 

What is true of this one prison, it seems altogether likely would 
prove true of the others, when judged by the same rule. 

With these preliminary remarks I subjoin a catalogue of those sen- 
tenced to prison, after trial and conviction, carefully drawn from official 
sources. 



Year. 


Col'd Males. 


Col'd Femalea. 


Total. 


1835* 


53 


23 


76 


1836 


92 


41 


133 


1837 


92 


38 


130 


1838 


84 


36 


120 


1839 


105 


41 


146 


1840 


76 


40 


116 


1841 


78 


27 


105 


1842 


77 


38 


115 


1843 


59 


13 


72 


1844 


52 


12 


64 


1845 


68 


18 


86 


1846 


56 


18 


74 


1847 


58 


20 


78 


1848 


46 


18 


64 


1849 


67 


8 


75 


1850 


35 


10 


45 


1851 


54 


15 


69 


1852 


71 


13 


84 


1853 


57 


17 


74 


1854 


49 


11 


60 


1855 


53 


20 


73 


1856 


44 


9 


53 


1857 


43 


18 


61 


1858 


61 


19 


80 



The population of our country is found to double itself every 25 



* 2 months 11 days. 
2 



18 



years. Wo may conclude then that growing cities, like Philadelphia 
and New York, double their number not 7'\ss often at least. 

The above list covers 23 years and something over. The colored, 
moreover, multiply quite as fast as the white. Now the schedule shows 
that on neither one of the last ten years has the sum of colored persons 
sentenced been so large as that of 1836, when the city population was 
y,ot even half of what it now is, and that the sentenced of 1857 fell 
short by 15 of those of 1835 (less than 3 months.) 

To myself it seems that the above list shows the cundition, moral and 
civil, of the colored race, to have greatly improved within the last 23 
years, and to be far higher at this moment than it was at the commence- 
ment of that period. Trusting that these statistics may be satisfactory 
to yourself and the noble Society represented by yon, 
I remain, my dear sir. 

Very respectfully yours, 

Wm. J. Mullen, Prison Agent. 

in this letter we have the number of colored persons compared to- 
gether for a succession of years ; we now present a comparison of the 
convicts both white and colored for the same period. 







WHITE. 






COLORED 




TOTAL 

Both Colors. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


1835» 


70 


10 : 


80 


53 


23 


76 


1 156 


1836 


150 


22 ' 


172 


52 


41 


133 


' 305 


1837 


136 


18 


154 1 


t 92 


38 


130 


284 


1838 


120 


8 


128 


84 


36 


120 


248 


1839 


99 


15 


114 


105 


41 


146 


: 260 


1840 


75 


11 


86 


76 


40 


116 


1 202 


1841 


91 


20 


111 


78 


27 


105 


1 216 


1842 


91 


15 


106 


77 


38 


115 


! 221 


1843 


92 


10 


102 


59 


13 


72 


174 


1844 


79 


9 


88 


52 


12 


64 


152 


1845 


95 


8 


103 


68 


18 


86 


189 


1846 


95 


9 


104 


56 


18 


74 


178 


1847 


86 


U 


97 


58 


20 


78 


. 1"5 


1848 


83 


13 


96 


46 


18 


64 


160 


1849 


88 


13 


101 


67 


8 


75 


176 


185iJ 


99 


10 


109 


I 35 


10 


45 


154 


1851 


157 


20 


177 


54 


15 


69 


246 


1852 


212 


21 


233 


71 


13 


84 


317 


1853 


171 


28 


199 


i 57 


17 


74 


973 


1854 


181 


25 


206 


: 49 


11 


60 


266 


1855 


l.')3 


23 


156 


53 


20 


73 


229 


1)^56 


146 


29 


175 


44 


9 


53 


828 


1357 


171 


37 


208 


1 *1^ 


18 


61 


269 


1858 


8:>o 


33 


263 


' 61 

1 


19 


80 


343 


2950 


418 


3368 


' 1530 


523 


2053 


5421 



*2 months, II days. 



19 



If we compare the aggregate number of colored persons convicted in 
each three years, we will find a gradual decrease amounting to near 
one-half in twenty years, whilst on the side of the whites, as will be 
seen from the above list, there has been a considerable increase. 
Colored persons convicted in 1835, 36, 37, (21 years), - 339 
" " '< 1838, 39, 40, - - - 382 

1841,42,43, . - - 292 

•' " 1844,45,46, - - - 224 

" '' " 1847,48,49, - - - 217 

1850, 51, 52, - - ■ 198 
" 1853, 54, 55, - - - 207 

1856, 57, 58, - - - 194 
If the year 1836, with its 133 colored convicts, be contrasted with 
1856, having 53 convicts; 1837 and its 130 colored prisoners, with 
1857 with 61, or 1839 numbering 146 convicts to 1858 with only 80, 
the improvement will be more strikingly manifest. 

In the years 1836, 37 and 38, the total number of convicts was 837, 
of whom the colored formed 45^ per cent., whilst in 1856, 57 and 58, 
we find 840 convicts, (about the same number,) of whom the colored 
portion amounts to 23-^ per cent. 

The following table exhibits the character of the crimes of which the 
colored people are convicted, embracing a period of 11 years, ending 
12th month 31st, 1858. It will be found that the crimes of larceny, 
burglary, horse-stealing and receiving stolen goods, together amount to 
92 — per cent, of the whole, leaving ~~ per cent, for all other crimes, 
and that larceny alone constitutes 88— per cent. 

CRIMES OF THE COLORED CONVICT? IN MOYAMENSING PRISON. 



CRIMES. 



Assault and Battery, with in- 
tent to kill 

Bipamy 

Pa.'il-ing Counterfeit Money- • - - 

Larceny 

Malicious Mischief 

Arson 

Burglary 

Misdemeanor 

Riot 

Carrying Concealed Weapooa - 

Mayhem 

Receiving Stolen Goods 

Adultery 

Hone Stealing 



1845.1849.1850 






I 

16 6S 
1 
1 
7 



10 



1851, 



1852.11853 



13 



1854.11855.11856. 1857. '1S58, 



S.I ? 



1 

10 47 



46 18 67 8.'35;10:54 15 71 13 57 17,49 11 53 20 44' 9 43 18 61 19 738 



" * S . <t 



17 



8 41 

I 1 



■^ 2 'T! 



19 



18 

1 

4 

65' 

2 

1 

16 

21 

4 

3 

1 

8 

1 

1 



During the past 11 years there were convicted of .Murder. 12 persons, 10 white and 

2 colored, of these 4 whites and 1 colored person were executed, therefore add ■■ ■ 2 

Total Conyicted 740i 



20 



The degree of the crimes may be judged from the following state- 
ment of the terms of sentences of these colored persons : 



TERM OF SENTENCE. 


MALES. 


FEMALES. 


TOTAL. 


PER CENT. 


Under Six Months, . 

Over Six Months, 

One Year and over, . 

Two Years and over, . , 

Three Years and over, . 

Murder, 


2G0 

118 

153 

32 

17 

2 


68 
41 

43 
5 

1 


328 

159 

196 

37 

18 

2 


44.32 
21.49 
26.49 

5. 

2.43 
.37 


582 


158 


740 


100. 



EASTERN PENITENTIARY. 
By the Reports of the Inspectors of the Eastern Penitentiary, we find 
that the numbers admitted therein during the several years since 1835, 
are as stated in the following table : 







WHITES. 






COLORED. 




Total 

hnth 




Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


colors. 


1836 


81 


3 


84 


51 


8 


59 


143 


1837 


100 


1 


101 


58 


2 


60 


161 


1838 


109 


6 


115 


55 


8 


63 


178 


1839 


96 


3 


99 


65 


15 


80 


179 


1840 


86 


2 


88 


46 


5 


51 


139 


1841 


82 


1 


83 


37 


6 


43 


126 


1842 


99 


3 


102 


40 




40 


142 


1843 


111 


2 


113 


38 


5 


43 


156 


1844 


99 


7 


106 


27 


5 


32 


138 


1845 


109 


6 


115 


32 


6 


28 


143 


1846 


87 


3 


90 


23 


4 


27 


117 


1847 


85 


1 


86 


33 


5 


38 


124 


1848 


86 


3 


88 


30 


3 


33 


131 


1849 


101 


2 


103 


23 


2 


25 


128 


1850 


111 


5 


116 


29 


5 


34 


150 


1851 


no 


12 


122 


19 


6 


25 


147 


1852 


109 


4 


113 


12 


1 


13 


126 


1653 


101 


5 


106 


10 


1 


11 


117 


1854 


99 


2 


101 


20 


3 


23 


124 


1855 


115 


11 


126 


19 


» 


20 


146 


1856 


118 


9 


127 


17 


3 


19 


146 


1857 


191 


8 


199 


31 


7 


38 


237 


1858 


172 


3 


176 


29 


3 


32 


207 



From this table we have the following comparisons between periods 
10 years apart : 

lu the years 1836, '37 and '38, number of colored convicts, 182 

Bearing to the whole number the per centage, - - 37.76 



21 



In 1846, '47 and '48, number of colored convicts, - - 98 

Per centage of whole number, ----- 27.07 

In 1856, '57 and '58, number of colored convicts, - - 89 

Per centage of whole, ...--. 15.08 

We here see that in 20 years the number of convicts has decreased 

one-half, whilst the per centage is nearly two-thirds less. This includes 

the convicts from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. We now present 

the number of convicts from Philadelphia County during the last five 

years ending 12th mo. 31st, 1858. 





White Convicts. 






COIOEID CONTICTS 
























Total 




Meu. 


Women. 


Total. 


Per cent. 


Men. 


Women. 


Total. 


Per cent. 


both c^JorB. 


1854 


46 


1 


47 


77.05 


11 


3 


14 


22.95 


61 


1855 


62 


5 


67 


83.75 


12 


1 


13 


16.25 


80 


1856 


56 


6 


62 


87.32 


7 


2 


9 


12.68 


71 


1857 


74 


7 


81 


76.40 


21 


4 


25 


23.60 


106 


1858 


46 


2 


48 


90.57 


4 


1 


5 


9.43 


53 


284 


21 


305 


82.21 


56 


11 


66 


17.79 


371 



It will be noticed that whilst the number of colored offenders has 
evidently decreased the whites have increased, so that the comparative 
per centage of the two colors are, in 1854, 77.05 to 22.95, whilst in 
1858 it is 90.5G to 9.44. 

This relative change will be more apparent when we compare it with 
the years 1848, '49 and '50. 





Males. 


Whitb C 
Females. 


JOSVIOTS. 

Total. 


Per cent. 


( 

Males. 


?OLOK1D 

Females. 


CONTICTS. 

Total. 


Per cent. 


Total 

both colors. 


1848 
1849 
1850 


34 
32 
34 


2 
4 


34 
34 

38 


85. 

77.27 

64.41 


! 6 

8 

17 


2 
4 


6 
10 
21 


15. 

22.73 

35.59 


40 
44 

59 






106 


74.13 






37 


25.87 


143 



The whites in these three years were 74.13 per cent. 

colored " " " 25.87 " 

In the three years 1856, 57, and 58 

the whites were 83.04 " 

«« '« colored *' 16.96 " 

Thus showing a manifest improvement compared with the whites in 

the last eleven years. 

If we add together the Philadelphia convicts, both in the Peniten- 
tiary and Moyamensing prison, we have the following result: 



22 



1848, 49, and 50, Moyamensing, 
Penitentiary 



(( 



(( 



White. 


Colored 


307 


184 


106 


37 



413 221 

Being 65.09 per cent, for whites, 34.91 per cent, for colored, whilst 
1856, 57 and 58 gives: White. Colored. 

Mojamensing 646 194 

Penitentiary .191 39 



833 233 

Which gives 78.22 per cent, for whites, 21.78 for colored. 
The crimes of which the colored convicts in the Penitentiary were 
convicted, during the last five years, are given below. 



1 Year. 


a 


£ 

< 


1 

a, 
S 

c 

a 

< 


1 




s 

•3 >, 

S 

a 


1 


>*— 

u — 

•So 

li 

52 

1^ 


s 
g 

i 
1 




5 


1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 


4 
11 

5 
21 

1 


1 

1 
1 


1 


1 


3 
2 

1 
2 
1 


2 


1 

1 
1 


1 
1 


2 


14 
13 

9 

25 

5 


42 


3 


1 


I 


9 


2 


3 


2 


1 


2 


66 



We here find Larceny, Burglary, Highway Robbery, and Robbery 
constitutes 84.84 per cent, of the whole criminals, not quite so large 
a proportion as that shown by Moyamensing Prison, which was 92.16 
per cent. 

The table below gives the sentences of colored prisoners from Phila- 
delphia for five years. 



1 

' Ykars. 

! 


to 

.a 

§ 
B 

o. 


i 

9 


B 

c 

i 

ft 


16 months. 
16 montha. 


1 

B 

00 
ft 


1 


m 

g 
s 

<o 


1 


i 
>> 


n 


« 


.9" 


at 


14 
13 

9 
25 

5 


1 1854 

1855 

1856 

[ 1857 

' 1858 

1 


1 


6 
5 
9 

1 


1 


2 
3 


1 
1 


3 
4 


6 
2 
2 

1 


1 


2 


1 


3 
1 

2 
2 


1 


1 


2 

1 

•1 


1 


_21 


1 


6 2 


7 


11 


1 


2 


1 


8 


1 


1 


4 


66 ' 



* This person convicted in 1858 of burglary, and sentenced to five years, was 
received 4th mouth 10th, .ind discharged on habeas corpus, 5th month 17th, 
hftving been proved innocent- 

MB 10 3, 



23 

Of these 66 prisoners, 38 were convicted for the first time, 18 for the 
second time, and the remaining 10 three or more times. Their general 
habits are classified thus : 

Abstainers ... 8 

Moderate drinkers . . 28 

Sometimes intoxicated . 21 

Often intoxicated : . 9 

whichwouldjustifyusin asserting thatSSpercentofthe crimes committed 
by them are the result, directly or indirectly, of the use of intoxicating 
drinks. That this is rather below than above the true figures may well 
be inferred, when we consider the large number of taverns and grog 
shops, many of which are unlicensed, to be found in those sections 
which are largely inhabited by colored persons. It is stated that in the 
Third and Fourth "Wards alone there are 374 places where liquor is 
sold, and allowing an addition for part of Fifth and Seventh "Wards, we 
may safely conclude there are 450 to 500 liquor venders in that section 
of the city. It would be unreasonable to expect that a portion of the 
community against whom there exists such an unrelenting prejudice, 
and who are deprived of the civil and social privileges accorded to 
other classes, should be free from the commission of crimes which are 
inseparable from the evil associations by which they are surrounded. 

The percentage of those who abstained from intoxicating drinks in the 
Penitentiary at the close of the years 1856, 1857 and 1858 respectively, 
was 3.02, 1.50 and 2.23 per cent, of the whole number of prisoners, 
which goes to confirm our belief that the percentage above given is 
less than the actual state of the case. 

Regarding the nativities of these 66 prisoners, we find that 37 were 
born in Pennsylvania, 8 in other Free States, 19 in Southern States, 
and 2 in the "West Indies. 

HOUSE OF REFUGE. 

This Institution is intended rather to prevent than to punish crime, 
yet since some are committed to its care who otherwise would be lodged 
in prison, it would seem proper to notice it here, although the colored 
department having so recently been organized, a comparison with 
the white inmates can hardly be instituted. 

During the last five years there were received into it, exclusive 
of those returned after escape or indentvire, 1955 youths of whom 417 
were colored, which gives us 21.33 per cent, for the colored against 
78.67 per cent, for the whites. 



24 

Of this numb erthere were received from Philadelphia 1768, — 1385 
of whom were white and 383 colored, giving the percentage 78.34 for white 
and 21. 6G per cent, for colored. Of the commitments 100 were made 
by the courts of Philadelphia, 72beingwhiteand28 colored. Thecommit- 
ments of whites by court, are to the whole number from Philadelphia 
4.07 per cent., whilst those of the colored are 1.58 per cent. 

The number of commitments to the white department has increased 
from 534 in the five years from 1836 to 1840, to 1955, in the five years 
ending 1858. 

Of the colored youth received during the past five years, the nativi- 
tie.s of 303 were ascertained, of whom 41 or 13.20 per cent, were born 
in the Southern States and West Indies. 









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